Mercury Coach Tibbetts Defers WNBA Transgender Policy to League as Barkley Criticizes Engelbert
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 26
Mercury Coach Tibbetts Defers WNBA Transgender Policy to League as Barkley Criticizes Engelbert
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 26
Summary
Nate Tibbetts said the WNBA league office—not team coaches—should answer for the league’s transgender eligibility policy when asked before Phoenix’s 94-84 loss to Washington.
Charles Barkley triggered the latest flare-up by saying he was disappointed in NBA commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not addressing the issue earlier.
The dispute centers on a policy critics call unclear: the WNBA collective bargaining agreement says only women are eligible, but does not spell out whether transgender women can play.
Cathy Engelbert has pushed back on the broader debate, saying people are using the league to sow divisiveness, while public pressure has grown after comments from players and outside figures.